Forerunners of the Coureur Des Bois — Indian Interpreters in New France and Beyond

From wikipedia: 

In New France, French interpreters (interprète) learned indigenous languages, with the aim of establishing links with aboriginal peoples, living with them and understanding their customs in order to act as intermediaries.

1610–1630: EARLY EXPLORERS AND INTERPRETERS

Shortly after founding a permanent settlement at Quebec City in 1608, Samuel de Champlain sought to ally himself with the local native peoples or First Nations. He decided to send French boys to live among them to learn their languages in order to serve as interpreters, in the hope of persuading the natives to trade with the French rather than with the Dutch, who were active along the Hudson River and Atlantic coast.

The boys learned native languages, customs, and skills, and tended to assimilate quickly to their new environments. A year after leaving Étienne Brûlé in 1610, with a Huron tribe, Champlain visited him, and was surprised to find the young man attired completely in native clothing and able to converse fluently in the Huron language. 

Early explorers such as Brûlé educated the French colonists on the complex trading networks of the natives, served as interpreters, and encouraged the burgeoning fur trade. Between 1610 and 1629, dozens of Frenchmen spent months at a time living among the natives. Over time, these early explorers and interpreters played an increasingly active role in the fur trade, paving the way for the emergence of the coureurs des bois proper in the mid-17th century.

Jean Nicolet (Nicollet) de Belleborne (Ca. 1598 – 1 November 1642) was a French coureur des bois noted for exploring Green Bay in what is now the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Nicolet was born in Normandy, France in the late 1590s and moved to New France in 1618. In that same year, he was recruited by Samuel de Champlain, who arranged for him to live with a group of Algonquians, designated as the "Nation of the Isle", to learn native languages and later serve as an interpreter. The natives quickly adopted Nicolet as one of their own, even allowing him to attend councils and negotiate treaties. In 1620, Nicolet was sent to make contact with the Nipissing, a group of natives who played an important role in the growing fur trade. After having established a good reputation for himself, Nicolet was sent on an expedition to Green Bay to settle a peace agreement with the natives of that area.

Pierre-Esprit Radisson (1636–1710) was a French-Canadian fur trader and explorer. His life as explorer and trader is crucially intertwined with that of his brother-in-law, Médard des Groseilliers. Radisson came to New France in 1651, settling in Trois-Rivières. That same year, he was captured by the Mohawks while duck hunting. Although two of his companions were killed during this exchange, the natives spared Radisson's life and adopted him. Through this adoption, Radisson learned native languages that would later serve him well as an interpreter. He worked throughout the 1660s and 1670s with his brother-in-law, des Groseilliers, on various trade and exploration voyages into the west of the continent. Much of Radisson's life during this period is wrapped up in the story of des Groseilliers. Together they are credited with the establishment and shaping of the Hudson's Bay Company.

NEW FRANCE INTERPRETERS IN OUR FAMILY TREE

Jean Godefroy sieur de Linctot (1607–1678) 10th great-uncle

BIRTH 1607 • Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France

DEATH 26 MAR 1678 • Trois Rivires, Quebec, Canada

• 1626, arrived in New France with Samuel de Champlain, and served in the capacity of interpreter.

• After 1629, and the capture of Quebec by the Kirkes (England), he stayed on in the colony, living in the woods with the Indians.

Thomas Godefroy de Normanville (1610–1652) 10th great-uncle

BIRTH ABOUT 1610 • France

DEATH 1652 • Iroquois country (Huronia?), Canada

• 1626, arrived in New France with Samuel de Champlain, and served in the capacity of interpreter.

• After 1629, and the capture of Quebec by the Kirkes (England), he stayed on in the colony, living in the woods with the Indians.

• 1630s Furs were regularly leaving New France for Europe. These furs were mainly supplied by Indian traders, especially the Huron and Ottawa tribes. In Wisconsin the Winnebago tribes blocked the fur trade routes. They were attacked and defeated by the Ottawa and Huron. New tribes such as the Sauk, Fox, Potawatomi, and Ojibwe began moving into the area that is now Wisconsin.

Mathieu Amiot (Amyot) Sieur de Villeneuve (1628–1688) 8th great-grandfather

BIRTH 23 MAY 1628 • Estrees, Soissons, Ile-de-France, France

DEATH 18 DEC 1688 • Québec, Quebec, Canada

• 1640s, Interpreter and fur trader for the Jesuits in the Huron country.

Jean Amiot (Amyot) (1632–1708) 9th great-uncle

BIRTH 02 NOV 1632 • Vineuil, Blois, Loir-et-Cher, Centre, France

DEATH 16 APR 1708 • Québec, Quebec, Canada

• 1640s, Interpreter and indentured employee of the Jesuits he spent several years in the Huron country.

Charles Amiot (Amyot) (1636–1669) 9th great-uncle

BIRTH 26 AUG 1636 • Quebec, Canada

DEATH 10 DEC 1669 • Cap-Saint-Ignace, Quebec, Canada

• 1640s, Interpreter and indentured employee of the Jesuits he spent several years in the Huron country. He was educated at the Jesuit college and when he was barely 14 years old he accompanied Father Bressani as a servant on a trip to the Huron country.

Jean Mignault dit Chatillon (1622–1680) 9th great-grandfather

BIRTH 20 APR 1622 • Nanterre, Hauts-de-Seine, Ile-de-France, France

DEATH 1680 • Montmorency, Quebec, Canada

• 1648, Governor Montmagny sent Jean Mignault to the (le pays des Hurons) "Huron's Country" to invite them to the fur trade. 

BEYOND NEW FRANCE — TO THE FORESTS OF CANADA AND THE PLAINS OF THE UNITED STATES

Daniel Joseph Amiot (Amyot) Dit Villeneuve (1665–1725) 8th great-uncle

BIRTH 4 OCT 1665 • Québec, Quebec, Canada

DEATH 1725 • Michillimackinac, Michigan, USA

• 1686, took part in Henri de Tonti’s search for La Salle and descended the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico.

• 1690, François Garconnes de Boisrondel/t, acting for François Daupin sieur de LaForest, hired Daniel Joseph Amiot, Joseph Bénard, Joseph Fafard, Louis Fafard frères, and Jean Lat for a voyage to the Illinois. Notary Antoine  Adhémar.

• Many more voyageur trips thru 1710. Marriage 1719 • Mackinac Island, Mackinac, Michigan to Domithilde Oukabe Nepveuouikabe LaFourche (1690-1782) daughter of an Ottawa chief. Death 1725 • Michillimackinac, Michigan, United States.

Rene Bourassa dit LaRonde (1688–1778) 7th great-uncle

BIRTH 21 DEC 1688 • Laprairie, Quebec, Canada

DEATH 7 SEP 1778 • Mackinac Island, Mackinac, Michigan, USA

• 1735, A Coureurs Des Bois, he hired engages to go to Pierre Gaultier de La Verendrye's posts at Fort St. Charles on Lake of the Woods and Fort Maurepas near the mouth of the Red River.

• 1737, Rene constructed a post and wintered at Vermillion, Minnesota, to trade with the Ojibwa. After that, most of his trade was around Michilimackinac, where he was selling goods to the Indians.

François Rivet (1754–1852) 2nd cousin 7x removed

BIRTH 7 JUN 1754 • St-Sulpice, l'Assomption, Quebec, Canada

DEATH 27 SEP 1852 • Marion County, Oregon, USA

Marriage 1839 to Theresa Tete Platte (of Flathead First Nation) (1755-1852)

• 1791, Jacques Giasson hired François Rivet voyageur de L’Assomption to go to Chaque fois que nécessaire (Wherever required) Nord excluded, 3 years, Notary Louis Chaboillez.

• 1803-04, Winter - St. Louis entrepreneur Auguste Chouteau obliged Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark by engaging eight voyageurs to paddle a cargo pirogue. Three others were hired to assist the soldiers in working a keelboat. Pierre Cruzatte le borgne (one-eye) would be the bowman while François Labiche set the stroke as the first oar. The third, François Rivet, joined the expedition at St. Charles, but agreed to go only as far as the Mandans. The Corps of Discovery wintered at the Mandan/Hidatsa villages that year.

• Spent the rest of his live in service of the NWCo and HBCo.

Charles Michel De Langlade (1729–1801) husband of 1st cousin 7x removed

BIRTH 7 MAY 1729 • Mackinac Island, Michigan, United States

DEATH 26 JULY 1801 • Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States

• Great Lakes fur trader and war chief who was important to the French in protecting their territory. His mother was Ottawa and his father a French Canadian fur trader.

Andre Lagasse (Mignier) dit Lagace (1775–_) 1st cousin 6x removed

BIRTH 19 AUG 1775 • La Pocatière, Quebec, Canada

DEATH Unknown

• 1803, Apr 19 signs 4 year contract to act as a guide and interpreter for the North West Company, and to go to the Red River, Swan River and Lake Winnipeg. Andre Lagasse was an Interpreter for David Thompson.

Paschal Pinsonneau (1796–1884) 2nd cousin 5x removed)

BIRTH 17 APR 1796 • Cahokia, Illinois

DEATH MAR 1884 • Indian Territory, USA

Marriage 1839 • Kansas

Spouse Shikina Pensoneau b. ABT. 1820 • Kickapoo, Nation, Atchison County, Kansas, USA

• Fur-trader, and interpreter with the Kickapoo Indian Nation.

Laurent Pinsonneau (1807–1848) 2nd cousin 5x removed

BIRTH ABT. 1807 • Cahokia, Illinois

DEATH 18 JUL 1848 • Cahokia, St. Clair County, Illinois, USA

Marriage 11 May 1829 • Cahokia, Illinois

Spouse Elisabeth Hayes (1810–1895)

• Fur trader for the American Fur Company.  He established a trading post to trade with the Kickapoo Nation of the State of Illinois from present-day Wisconsin State.

Louis C Robidoux (Roubideau) Interpreter (1846–1913) 6th cousin 4x removed

BIRTH ABT 1846 • Wyoming

DEATH 14 JAN 1913 • Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota, USA

• the official Rosebud Agency (Sioux of the Rosebud) interpreter in 1889

Many of our early Voyageur ancestors were also Coureur Des Bois.

SEE: https://laprairie-voyageur-canoes.blogspot.com/2019/04/index-voyageur-grandfathers-la-prairie.html

Aunt Francoise Duquet married well, and her brothers benefited

Francoise Duquet was the daughter of Denis Duquet dit Desrochers, a wealthy fur trader, and a member of the "Traite de Tadoussac."

She was also the sister of Pierre Duquet de La Chesnaye, the royal notary.

On 19 Jan 1660, when she was 15 years old, she married Dr. Jean Madry (1626–1669), garrison surgeon at Trois-Rivières, lieutenant and clerk to the chief barber and surgeon of the king. 

Madry died of drowning on 26 July 1669 during a trip to Trois-Rivières. The couple had no children.

Before his death Madry had acquired the fief of Grandpré at La Canardière, which the Jesuits had granted him in 1659. 

He left Françoise fairly well off as she now owned the fief of Grandpré in the seigneury of Notre-Dame-des-Anges.

On 14 Sep 1670, at Quebec, Francoise married Olivier Morel, sieur de la Durantaye, a captain in the Carignan-Salières regiment who became commandant of Michilimackinac, and still later the commandant of Fort Saint-Louis. 

In 1702 Olivier Morel became a member of the Sovereign Council of New France.

ABOUT THE DUQUET FAMILY...

Father: Denis Duquet dit Desrochers (1612–1675) our 8th great-grandfather

BIRTH 14 OCTOBRE, 1612 • Dauphine, Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France

DEATH 26 NOV 1675 • Québec, Quebec, Canada

Mother: Catherine Gauthier de la Chesnaye (1626–1702) our 8th great-grandmother

BIRTH 08 JULY 1626/JUN 1625/29 OCT. 1627 • St Etienne Du Mont, Paris, Ile-De-France, France

DEATH 3 AUG 1702 • Québec, Quebec, Canada

In 1659, as a young man Denis Duquet became a wealthy fur trader. He was a member of the "Traite de Tadoussac" (1) the first fur-trading post in European North America (established in 1600, eight years before the founding of Québec City).  The Traite de Tadoussac was the embarkation warehouse and trading post from which the furs were sent to France. 

The Children of Denis and Catherine were: 

i. Pierre Duquet de La Chesnaye (1643–1687) our 8th great-uncle

BIRTH BEFORE 14 JAN 1643 • Quebec, Canada

DEATH 13 OCT. 1687 • Quebec, Canada

Pierre Duquet de La Chesnaye, had been involved in the fur trade, and was the first Canadian-born notary.

SEE his biography: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/duquet_de_la_chesnaye_pierre_1E.html

ii. Françoise Duquet (1645–1719) our 8th great-aunt

BIRTH 7 NOV 1645 • Quebec, Canada

DEATH 14 SEP 1719 • Quebec, Canada

MARRIAGE (1) Dr. Jean Madry (1626–1669), 19 Jan 1660, in Notre-dame-de-Québec, Québec, Canada

SEE his biography: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/madry_jean_1E.html
More about Dr. Jean Madry, SEE: http://canadianacollection.com/1664-pelletier/

MARRIAGE (2) Olivier Morel, sieur de la Durantaye (1640–1716), 14 Sep 1670 in Notre-Dame-de-Quebec, Québec, Canada

SEE his biography: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/morel_de_la_durantaye_olivier_2E.html

iii. Jean Duquet dit Desrochers (1651–1710) our 7th great-grandfather

BIRTH 1651 • Québec, Quebec, Canada

DEATH 20 AUG 1710 • Lauzon, Quebec, Canada

Marriage 1683 to Catherine-Ursule Amiot (1664-1715)

In the 1680s, he was a "bourgeois" (headman of a fur brigade).

Map of New France c. 1688

iv. Louis Duquet sieur Duverdier (1657–1691) our 8th great-uncle

BIRTH 19 FEB 1657 • Quebec, Canada

DEATH AFT. 1693 • Quebec City, Quebec, New France

He was a voyageur and fur trader.

v. Antoine Duquet dit Madry (1660–1733) our 8th great-uncle

BIRTH 18 NOV 1660 • Québec, Quebec, Canada

DEATH 20 MAY 1733 • Lachenaie, Québec, Canada

He was a voyageur and fur trader.

vi. Joseph Duquet (1664–1741) our 8th great-uncle

BIRTH 11 AUG 1664 • Québec, Qc, Can

DEATH AFT. 1741 • Canada

He was a voyageur and fur trader.

AN INTERESTING FAMILY CONNECTION…

Excerpt from: Edge of Empire: Documents of Michilimackinac, 1671-1716, Joseph L. Peyser, José António Brandão, Michigan State University Press, 2008…

Document 35 Service contract… Engagement de Louis & Antoine Duquet et Etienne Benoit à Olivier Morel de LaDurantaye pour aller chercher des castors à Michilimakinac (31 août 1693).

Before Claude Maugue, royal notary of the island of Montreal, residing there, and the undersigned witnesses, there appeared sieurs Louis Duquet Duverdier and Anthoine Duquet Madry and Estienne Benoit Livernois² who have promised and obligated themselves to go up to the Ottawas this year and to pick up and bring to this place thirty bales of beaver that are at Michilimackinac belonging to Olivier Morel, esquire, seigneur of La Durantaye, at the place that will be indicated at Villemarie, next year where they will proceed during the customary season for coming down, helping one another to be sure that the said thirty bales will be faithfully transported.

“Edge of Empire” is well worth reading as several of our La Prairie relatives are listed in it.

UNDERSTANDING FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS IN THE FUR TRADE

FRANCOIS LEBER (1626-1694) was the father of JOACHIM LEBER (1664–1695) and MARIE LE BER (1666–1756)

SEE: https://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2016/05/my-leber-family-la-prairie-quebec-canada.html

FRANCOIS LEBER’S brother was JACQUES LEBER DIT LAROSE (1633–1706). JACQUES LEBER was a business partner in the earliest fur trading post at Montreal with CHARLES LE MOYNE SIEUR DE LONGUEUIL (1626-1685), who is also his brother-in-law.

SEE: https://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2016/07/uncle-jacques-le-ber-trading-post.html

MARIE LE BER married FRANCOIS BOURASSA (1659-1708). Their daughter, MARIE ELISABETH BOURASSA (1695-1766), married JACQUES PINSONNEAULT DIT LAFLEUR (1682-1773). They were early pioneers in La Prairie de la Magdeleine.

MARIE ELISABETH BOURASSA’S brother was RENE BOURASSA DIT LARONDE (1688-1778) a famous fur trader who traveled with PIERRE GAULTIER DE LA VERENDRYE.

SEE: https://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2015/08/great-uncle-rene-was-coureurs-des-bois.html

MARIE LE BER was also the grand daughter of ANNE GODEFROY (1615-1678) whose brothers — THOMAS GODEFROY DE NORMANVILLE and JEAN GODEFROY DE LINTOT — came to New France with SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN.

SEE: Great Grandmother's Brothers came with Samuel de Champlain

https://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2016/07/great-grandmothers-brothers-came-with.html

On my blog, “La Prairie Voyageurs,” I’ve written several posts that need to show the family relationships to better understand the fur trade in early La Prairie de la Magdeleine.

ALSO SEE: 

Re-examining the History of La Prairie-de-la-Madeleine

https://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2018/03/re-examining-history-of-la-prairie-de.html

My Pioneer Ancestors of Quebec — They Arrived Before 1637

• ZACHARIE CLOUTIER AND XAINTES DUPONT 

Zacharie Cloutier (c. 1590 – September 17, 1677) was a French carpenter who, in 1634, immigrated to New France in the first wave of the Percheron Immigration from the former province of Perche, to an area that, today, is part of Quebec, Canada. He settled in Beauport and founded one of the foremost families of Quebec.

Early life

Many sources state that Zacharie Cloutier was born about 1590 in the parish of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Mortagne-au-Perche, France.  Cloutier was one of several children of Denis Cloutier and his first wife Renée Brière.

The notary Mathurin Roussel of Mortagne called Cloutier the "family peacemaker," describing how Cloutier helped his father and brother solve a dispute involving inheritance.  In the parish of his birth, Cloutier wedded Xainte (aka Sainte) Dupont, on July 18, 1616.  Xainte had been born around 1595 in Mortagne to Paul-Michel and Perrine Dupont, and was the widow of Michel Lermusier.

In 1619 Henri II de Montmorency purchased the New France colony from his brother-in-law Henry II of Bourbon. Included amongst the laborers hired to assist Samuel de Champlain in “inhabiting, clearing, cultivating and planting” New France were the names of Zacharie and his father Denis. This group was not a group of settlers, but a group of laborers, who would return to France once their work had been completed. Several years later, however, Cloutier returned to Canada to help establish a new settlement at Beauport.

Life in New France

Cloutier was one of the first Frenchmen recruited by Robert Giffard de Moncel to expand the colony of New France by settling the Beauport area near Quebec City. Cloutier arrived in 1634 (at the age of about 44) and either arrived with or was soon followed by his family. This was an important addition to the colony's population which numbered about 100 prior to his arrival. Cloutier worked with fellow immigrant Jean Guyon du Buisson to construct Giffard's manor house (the oldest house in Canada) and other colonial buildings.

Cloutier and Guyon resisted for several years paying the fealty and homage owed to Giffard under the Seigneurial system of New France until the Governor of New France explicitly ordered them to do so. This was one of the first disputes against transplanting Old World hierarchy to the New World that would carry through the centuries even past the time of the British conquest.

In 1652 Cloutier received a grant of land from Governor Jean de Lauzon in Château-Richer, Quebec. The land on which Cloutier lived in Beauport was known as La Clouterie (or La Cloutièrerie). In 1670 Nicolas Dupont de Neuville purchased this land from Cloutier. This action resulted in disagreements between Cloutier, his neighbor, Jean Guyon, and Giffard, his Seigneur, resulting in the Cloutier family's relocation to Château-Richer.

Zacharie Cloutier died on September 17, 1677 at the age of about 87. His wife died three years later on July 13, 1680 and was buried with her husband in Château-Richer.

Children

Together Zacharie and Xainte had six children, one of whom died in childhood. The marriage of his daughter Anne to Robert Drouin is the oldest recorded marriage in Canada. In 1636 when her marriage contract was drawn, Anne was merely ten years of age. The religious sacrament of marriage was not performed until a year later on July 12, 1637. However, according to the contract drawn the year prior, the couple would only be allowed non-conjugal visits for the next two years.

 Another list of his Children:

Zacharie Cloutier (1617 - 1708)

Jean Cloutier (1620 - 1690)

Ann Cloutier Drouin (1626 - 1648)

Charles Cloutier (1629 - 1709)

Louise Cloutier Migneault (1632 - 1699)

Louise Cloutier married (1st) Francois Marguerie (2nd) Jean Mignault dit Chatillon

Jean MIGNOT MIGNEAULT was born on 20 April 1622 in France. He was also known as Jean MIGNOT MIGNEAU dit CHÂTILLON. He was a soldier who arrived with the troops sent by the Queen in 1644. In 1647, he requested permission of the Ursulines to marry their pupil Barbe KAKESIGOUKOUE but the girl preferred one of her compatriots François KOUEKOUEIBABOUGOUCH. 

In 1648, he commanded a troop of five or six Frenchmen along with Algonquins and Hurons to hunt down the Iroquois. On 11 January 1648, Montmagny sent him to the Hurons to invite them to the fur-trade. He went up with two Huron Christians and returned with a group of Hurons who had won a memorable victory over the Mohawks near Trois-Rivières. 

He married Louise CLOUTIER, the widow of François MARGUERIE on 10 November 1648 in the paroisse de Notre-Dame de Québec. He claimed to be a tailor in 1666, but he worked for his father-in-law Zacharie CLOUTHIER as a farmer in 1667 in Beauport. He died before 1684.

Louise CLOUTIER was born on 18 March 1632 at St-Jean de Mortagne. She married her first husband François MARGUERIE, an intelligent interpreter at Trois-Rivières, on 26 October 1645. Her husband drowned in the St. Lawrence on 23 May 1648, without leaving any children. She then married Jean MIGNOT on 10 November 1648 in the paroisse de Notre-Dame de Québec. She entered into a third marriage with Jean MATTEAU in 1684. Louise died on the 22nd and was buried on 23rd June 1699 in Château-Richer.

More about: François MARGUERIE dit LA MARGUERITE was born in St-Vincent, dioces of Rouen, Normandie. He married (1) Marthe ROMAIN before 22 October 1612.  Marthe ROMAN dit ROMAIN was born in St-Vincent de Rouen, France.  Child: i. François MARGUERIE dit LAMARGUERITE was born on 22 October 1612 in France.  He married (2) Louise Marie CLOUTIER on 26 Octobert 1645 in Québec.  He died on 23 May 1648 in Québec, after having drowned near Trois-Rivières, where he worked as an "interprère" (interpretor). His body was found near Québec.

• PHILIPPE AMYOT (AMIOT) AND ANNE CONVENT

Philippe Amiot, also known as Philippe AMYOT, was born around 1600 in Estrées, diocese of Soissons, Île-de-France. He married Anne CONVENT before 31 December 1626 in France. He arrived, along with his family, in New France in 1636.

Anne CONVENT, the daughter of Guillaume CONVENT & Antoinette DE LONGRAL, was born around 1604 in L'Estrée, France. Her second marriage on 26 September 1639 was to Jacques MAHEU in Québec. Her third husband was Etienne BLANCHON LAROSE. She died on the 25th and was buried on the 26th December 1675 in Québec.

Children of Philippe and Anne

i. Mathieu AMYOT was born before 1626 in France. He married Marie MIVILLE on 22 November 1650 in the Paroisse de Notre-Dame de Québec. He was confirmed on 10 August 1659 in Québec. He was knighted in 1667, but didn't receive the fief at Point-aux-Bouleaux, near Sainte-Croix, until 1672. He was buried on 19 December 1688 in Basilique Notre-Dame de Québec. Marie died and was buried on 5 September 1702 in Hôtel-Dieu de Québec.

ii. Charles AMYOT was born on 26 August 1636 in Québec. He married Marie Geneviève DECHAVIGNY on 2 May 1660 in Québec. Charles became a merchant in Québec on 2 May 1660. He died on 10 December 1669 in Québec. He was survived by two sons and a daughter.

iii. Jean AMYOT was probably born at Chartres around 1625. When his family arrived at Québec in 1636, he was immediately entrusted to the Jesuits to become one of the young lads who were being brought up on the Huron mission to learn the language and made the trip to Huronia with Father Isacc Jogues. He was the first to have the idea of forming a "mobile squadron" of Frenchmen to attack the Mohawks. In combat, he captured the murderer of Isaac Jogues. He drowned along with François Marguerie on 23 May 1648. His body was recovered in Sillery and was solemnly buried on 10 June in Québec.

• ROBERT CARON AND MARIE CREVET

Marie Crevet was born in 1621 at Benouville, Bayeux, Normandy, France; the daughter of  Pierre Crevet and Marie Le Mercier.  At the age of 15, she signed a marriage contract to become one of the  Filles à Marier or “marriageable girls”;  the first single women to set foot in New France since its return from the English in 1632. 

She married (1) Robert Caron, an indentured tradesman of Robert Giffard, and it's safe to assume that the Siegneur of Beauport, also sponsored Marie's voyage. Not much is known of Robert Caron, other than the fact that he was born about 1615 at La Rochelle, son of Robert-Edouard Caron, and that he arrived in New France on June 11, 1636.  Because of a fire, all of his records were destroyed. He died on July 08, 1656; at the Hotel-Dieu Hospital in Quebec.

Children of Marie and Robert

i. Marie Caron, b. 1638.  She married Jean Picard and had one daughter Louise.  Sadly Marie was murdered in an Iroquois Raid on June 10, 1660.

ii. Jean-Baptiste Caron, b. July 10, 1641 and died December 28, 1706.  He married Marguerite Gagnon and the couple had eight children.

iii. Aimee Caron, b. in 1643 and died on October 4, 1685.  She married Noel Langlois Jr.; son of her future stepfather Noel Landglois Sr. and Francois Garnier.  They had five children.

iv. Robert Caron Jr., b. February 8, 1647 and died on April 29, 1714.  He married Marguerite Cloutier and the couple had twelve children.

v. Catherine Caron, b. November 23, 1649 and died June 14, 1725.  She married Jacques Dodier and the couple had six children.

vii. Joseph Caron, b. March 16, 1652 and died May 5, 1711.  He married Elisabeth Bernier and the couple had twelve children.

viii. Pierre Caron, b. July 11, 1654 and died June 26, 1720.  He married Marie-Michelle Bernier and the couple had eight children.

After Robert's death, Marie married (2) widower Noel Langlois and the couple had one daughter, Marie-Anne, who would grow up to marry Jean Cote.  Marie died on November 22, 1695 and Noel July 14, 1684.

• LOUIS SÉDILLOT DIT MONTREUIL AND MARIE GRIMOULT

Louis Sédillot (Sédilot) (c.1599 – January 25, 1672) was one of the first French colonists of Québec.

He was born about 1599 or 1600 at Montreuil-sur-Brêche, France, and moved to Gif-sur-Yvette, Île-de-France where he worked as a gardener.  He married (1) Marie Challe Charier in 1626, and they had one child, Marie (1627–84). At some point prior to 1636, the elder Marie died and Sédilot found himself widowed.  In 1636, he married (2) Marie Grimoult in Saint Remy, France (Marie Grimoult was the widow of Bonaventure Pagnon).

In 1637 Sédilot travelled with his wife and daughter to Québec, where he obtained work from the Company of One Hundred Associates clearing and planting land.  He appears to have been successful at this work as his contract was renewed in 1640.  In 1645 Sédilot received land from Governor Charles de Montmagny, which he settled on with his family.  By this stage Sédilot and Grimoult had had further children, and in order to provide lands for his sons, Sédilot acquired further land from Louis d'Ailleboust in 1651, and from Le Vicomte d'Argenson in 1660.  In 1667, census records show that he owned 34 acres of cropland and three cattle.

Sédilot died January 25, 1672, and he was buried the following day at Notre-Dame-de-Québec.

Children of Louis and Anne

i. Jacqueline Sédillot.

ii. Adrien Sédillot, baptized on 18 December 1639 in Québec (Québec Province), Canada.2680 He died about 1 March 1715 in Québec (Québec Province), Canada. He was buried on 1 March 1715 in Québec (Québec Province), Canada.

iii. Étienne Sédillot, baptized on 9 September 1640 at Notre Dame in Québec (Québec Province), Canada.2610 He died on 9 November 1688 in Québec (Québec Province), Canada. He was buried on 10 November 1688 in Québec (Québec Province), Canada.

iv. Marguerite Sédillot, baptized on 4 April 1643 at Notre Dame in Québec (Québec Province), Canada.2446 She died after 10 November 1710 in Montréal (Québec Province), Canada.

v. Marie Sédillot, baptized on 21 October 1644 at Notre Dame in Québec (Québec Province), Canada.

vi. Jean Sédillot, baptized on 27 January 1647 at Notre Dame in Québec (Québec Province), Canada.

• JEAN CÔTÉ AND ANNE MARTIN

Jean Côté is one of the first settlers in Québec. He witnessed a rapid growth in Champlain's dynamic project. ... He married Anne Martin on November 11, 1635 at Québec by Father Charles Lelemant, a Jesuit priest, and witnessed by Guillaume Couillard and Robert Giffard.

It was in the spring of 1634 when Jean Côté crossed the Atlantic Ocean along with a group of colonist from Perche Normandy who were recruited by Robert Giffard, Seigneur of Beauport. He arrived in Québec after a sea voyage of approximately 2 months. Like all his peers, Jean Côté could only dream of coming to the new world on his own. He had made himself available as a farm hand to a colonist already in New France.

He settled at first in Québec on a lot of 150 feet by 60 beside the Notre-Dame-de-Recouverance church which is situated today at the corner of Buade and du Trésor streets. A few years later, in the presence of a notary public, Jean Côté engaged himself in the exploitation of the lands of Seigneur Giffard. This had nothing in common with his previous task as "farm hand" but was more of a rental which left the tenant some advantages. The later, in terms of the contract, could, in effect "grow and harvest hay, graze his animals... as he sees fit to".

Jean Côté did not miss the opportunity to profit from this contract. Another notarized document tells us that he sold to the Company of New France five hundred bales of hay for the sum of 80 livres (approximately $80).

The obligations of this contract were fairly light and reasonable. They consisted of "donating one day's labor each year for each head of cattle excepting calves". Generally, such servants to the Seigeur would seek to establish themselves on their own lands. And so did Jean Côté. In February 1645, he obtained his own parcel of land and immediately started to clear it for cultivation.

A quiet and simple life, this is what our ancestor Jean Côté knew. He married Anne Martin, daughter of Abraham Martin, on the 17 of November 1635 at Notre-Dame church. Witnesses were Robert Giffard and Guillaume Couillard. The Jesuit Missionary, Charles Lallemand, one of the Canadian Martyrs, blessed their union.. From this union issued all the Côté's of Canada.

On February 5th, 1645, Jean Côté received a grant of land, 3 arpents frontage by 126, on the shore of the St Lawrence, in the Seigneurie of Beauport. On the 15th of November 1649, he gives, as wedding gift to his daughter Simone, his property near Notre-Dame church. She married Pierre Soumande on the 10 of November of the same year. At that time, a father had to provide his daughter with a substantial dowry of money or property.

In 1662, he obtained a new piece of land of 5 arpents, 79 perches by 10 arpents deep in the bourg of Du Fargy (Giffard read backwards) near the Beauport river just north of today's church. {One square arpent equals approximately 1.5 acres. One arpent equals 1,260 yards.}

Jean Côté died in Beauport on the 28th of March 1661, after 23 years of marriage. He must have been between 50 and 60 years old. None of his sons were married and Louise, the only daughter at home is 10 years old. She will leave home 3 years later to marry.

Notes for Anne Martin

There is a lack of documentation regarding Anne Martin, until her marriage to Jean Cote. 

There are a number of theories about her origin:

1. Anne Martin is a metis (of mixed Native and French heritage). This theory has Anne being the daughter of Abraham Martin dit l'Escossois and an unknown Wendat (Huron) woman. Abraham Martin had been in New France since 1617. 

2. Anne Martin was the daughter of Abraham Martin dit l'Escossois with his first wife, Guillaumette Couillard. They were married in France abt 1610. 

3. Anne Martin is the younger sister of Abraham Martin dit l"Escossais, born ABT 1603 in La Rochelle, Aunis, France; and is the daughter of Galeran Martin (1578–1662) and Isabelle Coté (1567–1635) and is the sister of Abraham Martin dit l'Escossois (1589–1664)

Because each of the above is possible, I have chosen not to include any probable parentage for Anne.

However, given how early Anne was in New France (Before 1635), I think it probable that she had some connection to Abraham Martin.

ALSO SEE:

Pioneer Ancestors That Settled in the Wilderness of New France Before 1637

http://a-drifting-cowboy.blogspot.com/2016/07/pioneer-ancestors-that-settled-in.html